Clarke CIXTLI1 User manual

USER INSTRUCTIONS
ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS GC1219 - ISS 1
INDUCTIVE XENON TIMING LIGHT
MODEL NO: CIXTLI1
PART NO: 4003400

2
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing this CLARKE Timing Light.
Before use, read the following information and we are sure that you will enjoy
many years of service from your timing light and maintain the efficiency of
your car's engine.
The xenon bulb used in this light will provide the bright flash needed to see
engine timing marks under bright lighting conditions including normal daylight.
CONTENTS
PAGE
BASICS OF ENGINE TIMING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
When to check timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Timing specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Adjusting timing to specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Testing the centrifugal advance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Testing the vacuum advance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Checking distributor cam wear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Small engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Rotary engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CARE AND MAINTENANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
TROUBLESHOOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING POLICY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
BASICS OF PETROL ENGINE TIMING
In order for an automobile engine to function, three things are necessary: air,
fuel and a spark, to ignite the air/fuel mixture and create an explosion. The
precise instant of that explosion must be such that the maximum power is
delivered to the engine piston. This is ”Timing”. Each engine manufacturer
determines the exact timing necessary for various engines so that optimum
power is obtained from the fuel used. Due to normal engine and ignition
system wear, the accuracy of the timing can be lost, reducing both power
and fuel mileage. With the timing light, the car owner can reset the timing to
new car standards and regain lost power and fuel mileage.
Timing is given in degrees Before Top Dead Center (BTDC) or After Top Dead
Center (ATDC) in the manufacturer's specifications.
In order to completely burn the air/fuel mixture in the engine cylinders, most
timing is such that the spark occurs at a point several degrees before top
dead center (for example, 4° BTDC) to assure that full power of the explosion is
obtained. See Figure 1on page 4.
Two additional terms the engine manufacturers use when describing timing
are “Advanced” and ”Retarded”. As shown in Figure 1, when the timing is
advanced the spark will occur before the piston reaches the top of the
engine cylinder (BTDC). On some late model cars equipped with various
emission control devices, the timing is retarded so that the spark occurs after
the piston has started to move down in the cylinder (ATDC). Engine timing is
changed by adjustment of the ignition distributor.
In order to allow setting and adjustment of the engine timing, special “timing
marks” are provided on each engine during assembly. In most cases, these
marks appear on the engine vibration damper or fan pulley at the lower front
of the engine. See Figure 1 on page 4. On some early engines, this mark was
shown at the rear of the engine on the flywheel.
WHEN TO CHECK TIMING
The instant of spark plug firing is determined by the opening of the contact
breaker points and will change any time the points gap or dwell angle is
changed. In addition, normal wear on the contact breaker point contact
block will change the dwell and affect the timing. While cars equipped with
modern breakerless electronic ignition systems will not normally change
timing, since there are no contact breaker points, the timing light can still be
used to note changes in timing caused by defects in the ignition system as
well as for re-setting timing when components are changed.

4
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

5
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
TIMING SPECIFICATIONS
Timing requirements vary from engine to engine and therefore the engine
manufacturer’s specifications should always be referred to before making any
adjustments.
These specifications may be contained in the car owners manual, on the
engine bay label (required on all cars manufactured since 1968), and in
various printed publications. Many spark plug manufacturers such as
“Champion” “Autolite” and others, also provide specifications.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. DO NOT smoke, strike a match, or cause a spark in vicinity of the engine.
2. Remove all rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches while working with a
running vehicle engine.
3. Take great care not to drop metal tools onto the battery or onto the
moving parts of the engine.
4. Do not place the timing light on the hot engine surface and avoid the
engine fan, fan belt and battery to prevent damage.

6
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES
1. Locate the engine timing mark (see figure 1) and use a rag to clean all
grease and dirt from the mark and the pointer. It may help to use chalk or
white paint on the marks to make them more easily seen.
2. Check the manufacturers specifications for correct timing for the engine
being serviced.
3. Start and run the engine until the normal operating temperature is
reached. (Approximately 15 minutes.) Stop the engine.
4. If the specifications require, locate the vacuum tube going to the ignition
distributor vacuum advance and disconnect/ block the tube. A golf tee or
small pencil may be used to seal the tube.
5. Connect the timing light as shown in figure 3 on page 7.
6. Start the engine and operate at normal idle speed. Aim the timing light at
the timing mark.
7. Trigger the timing light and observe the reading from the timing mark.
8. Compare the reading obtained in step 7 with manufacturer’s
specifications. If the timing is not as specified, re-adjust as described in the
following procedure.
9. Stop the engine.
ADJUSTING TIMING TO SPECIFICATIONS
1. Loosen the distributor hold-down locking bolt(s) located at base of the
distributor enough so that the distributor may be rotated back and forth.
Do not over-loosen or remove the bolt(s) but leave tight enough to prevent
the distributor from turning by itself.
2. Start and run the engine.
3. Direct the timing light flash at the timing marks and slowly rotate the
distributor right or left until the timing marks are aligned with the pointer.
See Figure 4 on page 7. Stop the engine.
4. Tighten the distributor hold-down bolt(s) taking care not to change the
position of the distributor.
5. Start the engine and re-check the timing.
CAUTION: TAKE CARE WHEN WORKING AROUND A MOVING ENGINE.
KEEP HANDS, TOOLS AND THE TIMING LIGHT CLEAR OF THE MOVING
FAN, BELTS OR OTHER MOVING PARTS.

7
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

8
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
TESTING THE CENTRIFUGAL ADVANCE
With the timing light still connected and with the vacuum line disconnected:
1. Speed the engine up slowly to the manufacturers specified speed and
watch the timing mark.
2. The timing mark should remain stationary until the engine reaches the
manufacturer's specified speed. The timing mark should then move
steadily. (See figure 4 on page 7)
3. If the mark does not move or moves erratically, the centrifugal (automatic)
advance should be serviced as necessary.
4. To check the maximum advance, it is necessary to mark the harmonic
balancer with the maximum degree per the manufacturer's specifications
and follow the manufacturer's procedures.
TESTING THE VACUUM ADVANCE
1. The vacuum tube to the distributor must be connected to make this test.
2. Set the engine speed to 800 R.P.M. or any speed necessary to apply
vacuum to the distributor.
3. Aim the timing light and note the position of the timing mark.
4. Disconnect the vacuum tube.
5. If the timing mark does not move, the fault could be a plugged line, a
leaky diaphragm or a seized distributor plate and the distributor should be
serviced as required.

9
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
CHECKING DISTRIBUTOR CAM WEAR
1. This check is done after the timing has been set and the timing mark lines
up with the reference pointer for No 1 cylinder.
2. Connect the timing light to the lead directly opposite (180°) No 1 cylinder
on the distributor cap. (See figure 5 on page 8)
3. Start the engine and aim the timing light towards the timing mark. The
reading should be the same as when connected to No 1 cylinder.
4. If the reading is not the same, the probable cause is a worn out distributor
cam or a bent distributor shaft. Repair as required.
SMALL ENGINES
The DC power timing light can be used on any combustion engine with
impulse ignition or magneto ignition, such as motorcycles, lawn mowers,
outboard motors, or anywhere there is a high voltage spark used for ignition.
When 12 Volt DC voltage is not available from the engine being tested, an
external battery of 12V must be used. Connect a ground from the negative
post of the external battery to the engine. Connect the red clip to the (+)
positive terminal and the black clip to the (-) negative terminal of the battery.
Connect the adaptor lead of the timing light to the correct spark plug.
ROTARY ENGINES
The timing light can be used on rotary engines.
Follow the manufacturer's specific instructions and specifications. Figure 6 on
page 10 shows a typical procedure for the Mazda twin rotor engine.
1. Connect the Red (+) and Black (-) power leads clamps to the battery.
Connect the lead with the spark plug adaptor to the leading spark plug on
the front rotor housing.
2. Start the engine and run at idle speed.
3. Aim the timing light at the timing indicator pin on the front cover.
4. Loosen the distributor locking nuts and rotate the leading side distributor
body until the timing mark on the eccentric shaft pulley are in line with the
timing indicator pin.
5. Tighten the locking nuts and recheck the timing.
6. Repeat the above steps for setting the trailing side distributor timing with
the timing light connected to the trailing spark plug.

10
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
XENON LAMP REPLACEMENT
The lamp may have a black spot around the anode, this is perfectly normal.
However, if the lamp is completely black it has reached its end of life and
should be replaced. For a replacement xenon lamp, please contact your
CLARKE dealer.

11
Parts & Service: 020 8988 7400 / E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
TROUBLESHOOTING
All timing lights are tested before they are shipped from the factory and
improper operation is usually caused by incorrect connection. Please observe
the above troubleshooting procedure if the timing light fails to perform
satisfactorily.
ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING POLICY
Through purchase of this product, the customer is taking on the
obligation to deal with the WEEE in accordance with the WEEE
regulations in relation to the treatment, recycling & recovery and
environmentally sound disposal of the WEEE.
In effect, this means that this product must not be disposed of with general
household waste. It must be disposed of according to the laws governing
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) at a recognised disposal
facility.
Symptom Probable Cause Solution
No flash Trigger in OFF position Set trigger to ON position
Battery clips connected
in reverse
Reverse the battery clip
connections
Poor connection of clips Make sure the clips are
connected to a clean battery
terminal
Wrong direction of
inductive clamp
Point the arrow on the clamp
towards the spark plug
Weak ignition or spark
plug. Plug gap is too
small.
Connect to other plugs or
spark plug leads. If lamp
flashes, then repair the bad
plug or correct the gap.
Faulty lamp Get lamp replaced
Light flashes
intermittently
Timing light high-tension
lead lying on or too close
to the other spark plug
leads.
Place the high tension lead so
that it is routed away from the
other plug leads.